Get ready for an apps battle

There’s nothing like a lil’ competition to lure local tech whizzes into developing software applications that will benefit The City’s residents and make local government more transparent.

Six weeks ago, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of DataSf.org, a Web site where The City publishes all kinds of government information in hopes that tech pros and other clever professionals in town will make cool apps out of them.

On Thursday various big-name groups who support DataSf.org announced a day-long app-building contest on Nov. 7 that could net winning inventors a yet-to-be-determined cash prize or Apple gift certificate.

The contest is open to “developers, journalists, community organizers, policy wonks, students and others interested in building a better San Francisco from more than 100 datasets available on DataSF.org,” a release from the mayor’s office stated.